Google Maps Mashup NBO?

Mental‘s and Hash (recent) stay in Nairobi inspired me to check out Google’s Map API and how it could be implemented on a simple website in order to get a detailed overview of internet cafés / cybercafés in Nairobi.

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The idea is to get an updated, accessible online resource that lists all internet cafés in Kenya and user-based input/rating of the offered services.
Unfortunately, there’s no real map available from Google for the City of Nairobi – only a cloudy satellite image. And of course, downloading images takes time – especially if you’re connected via a lame modem connection that keeps on hanging up. So, Google’s Map service doesn’t seem to be a good option for this at the moment…

Ok, to make it short, here are my questions:

  • Did anyone come across an updated list of something like “best internet cafés in town” for e.g. Nairobi?
  • If it doesn’t exist yet – wouldn’t it be nice to have something like that – maybe just a simple list / page that could also be accessed via mobile phones (WAP 1.x) and/or printed out for fast reference?

Whenever someone blogs or speaks about internet cafés in Nairobi, ppl start dropping in their 2cents on where they regularly surf the web and we end up getting lots of useful hints. I think it would be nice to compile all these (dynamic, of course, as quality & services change) informations on a single page.
Maybe on kenyaunlimited.com?

(Pls don’t hit me if this already exists on places like Mashada or so :-)

The MB E320 Paris-Beijing challenge

I just applied as a driver for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz E320 experience – a rally from Paris, France to Beijing, China starting from October 21st and covering about 13.600 kms through 8 countries within 26 days.
Application forms are available online (until August 20th) and there will be about 33 E320 cars with 300 drivers allthoghter from different countries.

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And although I think I’ve sent in the smartest reason ever why I should be part of this great challenge, I just realized that I won’t be available later on this year in October. Doooooooooooooooooohh!

…but then, an internship in Kenya seems to be much more challenging than hitting the gas in an exclusive E320 for some kilometres only during that challenge. Sindiyo?

p.s.: dusty cars are soooo sexy…

da rulez

In a place, where only a very small minority of the population have access to piped water, where the accumulation of material wealth as the main goal has always been part of the cultural heritage, where honesty doesn’t pay, where a man with a Mercdes has more influence than an honourable figure who only scores with an academic degree, and where the educational system lacks any creativity and proper funding, the following rules seem to be appropriate for males:

  • drink as much and as often as possible
  • eat as much as possible
  • feel free to combine the drinking prrroceedja with errraborated discussions on various topics
  • manage to con fellow citizen into bogus deals in order to gain some extra income
  • win a Porsche
  • seriousrry think about starting a porrriiticaarrr carrrriiaah
  • look for opportunities to get laid
  • avoid shaggz by any means except for when you’re completly broke or have managed to share something small with your brothers
  • if in a public job, never mess with the Mama that delivers the morning tea and make sure to have a fresh copy of your favourite newspaper on your desk every day in order to look busy
  • manage to organize some free beers
  • have an opinion on everything but try to avoid any involvment into public affairs
  • look for a crown or a kingdom a.k.a. wife, children, house, car and nearby pub
  • go to church every sunday to hide your true image and take it as a perfect opportunity to look for beauties
  • manage to be in city centre where the action is and be on the spot whenever something interesting happens.
  • know the places where they serve good, fresh, delicious and cheap chicken for lunch
  • if jobless, look for a wealthy politician that needs protection and offer bodyguard services
  • watch US american hip hop videos and learn to copy the bling-bling style
  • look for a cool place in the shadow where you can rest during the extended lunch hours
  • with appropiate anatomic conditions, think about applying as an Office Linebacker
  • tbc…

Vodafone

Meine Frage an Vodafone:

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich habe einen (alten) D2-Fun Tarif, den ich nach Vertragsverlängerung im Spätsommer/Herbst auch weiterhin behalten möchte. Für diesen Tarif gibt es zwei Kurzmitteilungszentralen (..000 und …333), die es ermöglichen, netzinterne SMS ab der 101. SMS über die …000 günstiger zu verschicken. Für diesen Zweck bieten die mir bekannten Nokia Modelle aus der Vergangenheit (z.B. das Nokia 6230) die Option an, vor dem Senden via “Optionen > Sendeoptionen > Sendeprofil > Sendevorgaben (Auswahl der SMC)” die Kurzmitteilungszentrale für jede einzelne Sms auszuwählen. Also direkt vorm Verschicken – nicht erst umständlich über das Einstellungsmenü.

Meine Fragen daher an Sie:
1. bieten die zZt aktuellen SONY Ericsson Modelle diese Option auch an (zB K800i)?
2. bieten die zZt aktuellen Nokia Modelle der Series 40 (6233/6234) diese Option weiterhin an?

Und die Antwort (nach 3-4 Tagen):

vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail.

Sowohl die neuen Nokia als auch die neuen SE Modelle bieten die Möglichkeit , mehrere Kurzmitteilungszentralen zu hinterlegen. Vor dem Versand der SMS kann die gewünschte Kurzmitteilungszentrale markiert werden.

Dieser Vorgang wurde am SE K 750i und am Nokia 6230 getestet.

Lieber Vodafone-Kundendienst,

beim Testen der neuen SonyEricsson Modelle (z.B. W810i), als auch der neuen Nokia Modelle 6280/6333/34 habe ich diese Option NICHT im Menü finden können. Meine Fragestellung bezog sich auf genau diese neuen, für UMTS “optimierten” Geräte.
Wann wird es eigentlich endlich mal eine SMS-Flatrate in Deutschland geben (so wie es in anderen europäischen Ländern auch schon der Fall ist)?

to be continued…